Synopsis On 13September 1996, the Canadian oil tanker LE BRAVE was performing manoeuvres at Section18 of the Port of Sorel, Quebec, to let the L'ORME NO.1 out. Driven by a stiff north-easterly breeze, the vessel struck the Turcotte Bridge on the Richelieu River in the Port of Sorel. The vessel and the bridge were slightly damaged. This occurrence did not result in any injuries or pollution. Other Factual Information Particulars of the Vessel On 13September 1996, the LE BRAVE was moored to the shoulder of the L'ORME NO.1 in Sorel harbour. The Turcotte Bridge, which spans the Richelieu River between the cities of Sorel and Tracy, is located just upstream of Section18 where the two tankers were moored. The weather conditions were good to fair, with winds from the north-east at approximately 20knots. At about 1630[1], the LE BRAVE, without a pilot but assisted by the tug OMNI ST.LAURENT tied to her starboard quarter, began to move away toward the other shore to allow the L'ORME NO.1 out. The L'ORME NO.1 departed slowly from Section 18, assisted by the tug OMNI RICHELIEU. As the weather conditions were unfavourable, the tug opted to moor to the shoulder of the barge OMNI ATLAS, lying just astern, to wait for the LE BRAVE to return to the wharf. It would then leave the Richelieu assisted by the two tugs. As the north-easterly wind drove the LE BRAVE toward the Turcotte Bridge, the vessel requested the tug OMNI ST.LAURENT to pull northwards to hold her back. The tug, which was very close to shore, had some difficulties getting back into position. The tanker's bow moved closer and closer to the bridge, by which time she was almost athwart the river. Faced with the inevitable, the master of the LEBRAVE gave orders for the main engine to be started, but, at 1645, the vessel struck the Turcotte Bridge. The structure of the bridge was slightly damaged. The vessel sustained damage to the foredeck and the bowsprit. During the days preceding the accident, the tanker had been moored in the Port of Sorel and was on stand-by. The crew was on board and had been busy performing maintenance work; there was no master on board. A master on leave was called upon only to perform the manoeuvres necessary to let the L'ORME NO.1 leave the wharf. The master came on board only a few minutes before the operation and left immediately thereafter. To avoid paying for the services of a pilot, a mooring line was left on the wharf at the vessel's bow and the manoeuvre was tried without using the main engine. The main engine had been warmed up before the master's arrival, but was stopped when he arrived. The master finally ordered for the main engine to be put into reverse to avoid striking the bridge, but this was apparently done at the very last minute. The bow thruster was used throughout the manoeuvre. The tanker's bow had been ballasted for this purpose.